Erik is a baseball fan who has been attending baseball games and snagging baseballs regularly since 2008.

4-24-11 PNC Park

It was Easter Sunday, so a big crowd wasn’t going to be on hand, which was a bonus. However, the previous night’s game had ended around 11PM, and since today was a day game, the chances of batting practice were slim. Add to the fact that it had drizzled all morning, and there was virtually no chance of batting practice whatsoever.

I got to the ballpark at 11:05 AM, just in time to see three Pirates leaving the bullpen after a side session. Two of the folks at the bullpen fence had baseballs. I had missed an early opportunity.PNC Park makes everyone stay on the Riverwalk for the first 30 minutes on Sundays, so there wasn’t too much to do. I noticed that someone doesn’t like Andrew McCutchen so much:

I met a couple ballhawks from Ohio. It was a father and son duo. They were friendly and snagged several balls of their own throughout the day.

At 11:30, I ran over to where the Nationals were playing catch.I got Chad Gaudin to toss me a ball near the dugout as he was walking back after completing his pre-game throwing.

I set up behind Sean Burnett throwing with Drew Storen. I got Sean Burnett to toss me my second ball of the day after they finished up.I camped out near a third ball and waited patiently. I asked a coach for it, and he asked if I’d gotten a ball yet. Since it was Easter Sunday, I couldn’t lie. I told him I’d already got one today, but wouldn’t mind another. He threw the ball to another ballhawk, but I was hoping that it would give me some good karma.After the Nationals were done, I walked around the park to take pictures and look for easter eggs.

Upper Deck:Right Field Upper Deck:Riverwalk:Seating Bowl:Looking out towards the Point:Abe was in the park, along with the other Nationals mascot Presidents.Once the game started, I got Andrew McCutchen’s warm up ball in the first inning,and Garrett Jones’ in the fourth.That was pretty much it.

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